The well-known “Reform Texts” of IriKAgina, king of Lagash/Girsu (24th century BCE), are a key source for reconstructing the social and economic history of Early Mesopotamia. They offer insights through the lens of royal ideology and its legislative and political embodiments. This article presents an edition of three new fragments belonging to this important composition, which were recently discovered at Girsu during surface surveys conducted by the Girsu Project on Tell H, Tell V, and their surroundings. To assess their historical value, the paper contextualizes the fragments within their broader archaeological and historical settings. It also provides a brief overview of the previously known sources for the 'Reform Texts,' highlighting relevant parallels. Despite their fragmentary nature, the new evidence adds details to the textual record, including variant spellings of known legal formulations and a mention of past conflicts with foreign enemies.

Three New IriKAgina “Reform” Fragments from Girsu

Massimo Maiocchi
2025

Abstract

The well-known “Reform Texts” of IriKAgina, king of Lagash/Girsu (24th century BCE), are a key source for reconstructing the social and economic history of Early Mesopotamia. They offer insights through the lens of royal ideology and its legislative and political embodiments. This article presents an edition of three new fragments belonging to this important composition, which were recently discovered at Girsu during surface surveys conducted by the Girsu Project on Tell H, Tell V, and their surroundings. To assess their historical value, the paper contextualizes the fragments within their broader archaeological and historical settings. It also provides a brief overview of the previously known sources for the 'Reform Texts,' highlighting relevant parallels. Despite their fragmentary nature, the new evidence adds details to the textual record, including variant spellings of known legal formulations and a mention of past conflicts with foreign enemies.
2025
93
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/5110109
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